Lawyer Directory

Firm History

John Arthur Clark and Alexander Wilson were boyhood friends from Dundas, Ontario who made the journey to Vancouver in the early 1900's. It was in 1909 when Clark and Wilson helped establish the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. And by 1911, they both began the practice of law.

During the outbreak of World War I, Clark and Wilson led their regiment through some of the most pivotal engagements in the war, including the Battle of Vimy Ridge, where they played a key role in some of the defining moments of Canadian history.

The newly promoted General Clark and Brigadier Wilson survived the war and returned to Vancouver where they resumed their practice of law.

In 1921, General Clark went on to further serve his country as the two-term Member of Parliament for the Vancouver-Burrard Constituency.

In the early days of World War II, the Seaforths, thanks in large part to the inter-war leadership of Clark and Wilson, were battle ready and led by a new generation of Vancouverites, including General Clark's son, Brigadier Don Clark. After the war, father and son formed the law firm Clark & Clark. In 1951 they were joined by John Maguire, and the firm became Clark & Maguire.

Alexander Wilson and his partners practiced under the name Wilson & White, and they occupied the adjoining offices next to Clark & Maguire. It was said that the door between the two firms was never closed. In April of 1952, the two firms decided to merge as Clark, Wilson, White, Clark and Maguire.

The current firm name of Clark Wilson is said to have been chosen by a receptionist who was too busy to use the full name. She shortened it to “Clark Wilson & Company” in order to speed up telephone calls. Today, one hundred years after Clark and Wilson began the practice of law we have emerged as one of British Columbia's pre-eminent law firms, with over 80 lawyers, and 140 staff.